Growth of sulfate-reducing Desulfobacterota and Bacillota at periodic oxygen stress of 50% air-O2 saturation.

Background: Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are frequently encountered in anoxic-to-oxic transition zones, where they are transiently exposed to microoxic or even oxic conditions on a regular basis. This can be marine tidal sediments, microbial mats, and freshwater wetlands like peatlands. In the latter, a cryptic but highly active sulfur cycle supports their anaerobic activity. Here, we aimed for a better understanding of how SRB responds to periodically fluctuating redox regimes.

Results: To mimic these fluctuating redox conditions, a bioreactor was inoculated with peat soil supporting cryptic sulfur cycling and consecutively exposed to oxic (one week) and anoxic (four weeks) phases over a period of > 200 days. SRB affiliated to the genus Desulfosporosinus (Bacillota) and the families Syntrophobacteraceae, Desulfomonilaceae, Desulfocapsaceae, and Desulfovibrionaceae (Desulfobacterota) successively established growing populations (up to 2.9% relative abundance) despite weekly periods of oxygen exposures at 133 µM (50% air saturation). Adaptation mechanisms were analyzed by genome-centric metatranscriptomics. Despite a global drop in gene expression during oxic phases, the perpetuation of gene expression for energy metabolism was observed for all SRBs. The transcriptional response pattern for oxygen resistance was differentiated across individual SRBs, indicating different adaptation strategies. Most SRB transcribed differing sets of genes for oxygen consumption, reactive oxygen species detoxification, and repair of oxidized proteins as a response to the periodical redox switch from anoxic to oxic conditions. Noteworthy, a Desulfosporosinus, a Desulfovibrionaceaea, and a Desulfocapsaceaea representative maintained high transcript levels of genes encoding oxygen defense proteins even under anoxic conditions, while representing dominant SRB populations after half a year of bioreactor operation.

Conclusions: In situ-relevant peatland SRB established large populations despite periodic one-week oxygen levels that are one order of magnitude higher than known to be tolerated by pure cultures of SRB. The observed decrease in gene expression regulation may be key to withstand periodically occurring changes in redox regimes in these otherwise strictly anaerobic microorganisms. Our study provides important insights into the stress response of SRB that drives sulfur cycling at oxic-anoxic interphases. Video Abstract.